Do the cloud benefits from 2008 still stand

Late 2008 these were the predicted benefits of cloud computing. Do they still stand?

1. Reduced Cost
   Cloud technology is paid incrementally, saving organizations money.
2. Increased Storage
   Organizations can store more data than on private computer systems.
3. Highly Automated
   No longer do IT personnel need to worry about keeping software up to date.
4. Flexibility
   Cloud computing offers much more flexibility than past computing methods.
5. More Mobility
   Employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks.
6. Allows IT to Shift Focus
   No longer having to worry about constant server updates and other computing issues, government organizations will be free to concentrate on innovation.

Follow the reasoning below to see if they are still valid.

1. Reduced Cost: Cloud technology is paid incrementally, saving organizations money.
   But paying incrementally doesn't automatically save money. It's not that providers all of a sudden don't need margin anymore. So in reality instead of paying, let's say 30K in 3 year, the price per month would not be 833,= but more like 950,= per month. A provider needs to cater for the possible loss of  predictable income, etc. On the other hand, the real value of a three year old technology would not be 833,= anymore. And since the provider will upgrade much more frequently, the end-user will receive more value of what is really needed. Another difference that will lower the 950,= drastically, is the effective use of economy of scale. Providing some 'cloud' to multiple customers brings down the need to overscale and makes it easier to only extend when needed. All together, the effective price will be less than 833,=, e.g. 750,= per month.
   
2. Increased Storage: Organizations can store more data than on private computer systems.
   Scalability is much higher at a provider's site than a individual company will implement. On the other hand, storage in the cloud is still very expensive.
   
   
3. Highly Automated: No longer do IT personnel need to worry about keeping software up to date.
   But there's more to automation than just software updates. The trend, although, is that automation is kicking in fast. Mostly because system administrators work differently, i.e. making use of building blocks.
   
   
4. Flexibility: Cloud computing offers much more flexibility than past computing methods.
   Using building blocks is in one way hindering perfect customization, but up- and downscaling is much easier. Also totally cutting down some offering is more and more possible.
   
   
5. More Mobility: Employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks.
   Although security is still not completely in place for all situations, it is obvious that the location independent workforce is a reality.
   
   
6. Allows IT to Shift Focus: No longer having to worry about constant server updates and other computing issues, government organizations will be free to concentrate on innovation.
   Company's IT staff has shifted focus, partly away from mundane system administration tasks, but also partly to new 'IT worries'
   
   

So it seems that all statements seem to be true in the end. But they are not completely true in all cases and in all width of the statements.